Young readers will enjoy this earnest story’s constructive lesson.
A young girl and her classmates learn how to celebrate diversity in Tabron’s illustrated children’s book, based on events from her own life.
La June has lots of friends in her Detroit neighborhood, but her closest friend is Jenefer. They enjoy imaginary adventures in Jenefer’s treehouse and play softball in the park. They’re in the same class at school, and La June looks forward to eating lunch with her best friend each day. But one day, Jenefer moves away, and when La June tries to make new friends, she’s suddenly aware of the strict social dynamics of her class. Jenefer was white and La June is Black; in the lunchroom, “She and Jenefer always sat at the middle table, but no one is sitting there now. As she looks around the room, she notices everyone is sitting with people who look like them.” Things become further complicated when Eva and her family move into Jenefer’s old house; Eva has different interests than Jenefer did, and La June is confused by the traditional Mexican food that Eva’s family eats. However, with the help of La June’s mother and her teacher, Mr. Stokes, she and her classmates begin having discussions about their differences and learn about what it takes to unite as a community. Tabron’s book will most appeal to children in the upper elementary age group, due to the large amount of text per page and the overall length of the story. Overall, the narrative delivers an effective message and has a pleasingly natural flow with engaging characters. Tabron, the chief executive officer of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, helpfully reveals in the back matter that her current work with children and families relates to the healing that she found in her experiences at school in Detroit, which inspired this book. Grooms’ full-color cartoon illustrations feature classrooms with diverse students, who are portrayed with a range of skin tones.
Young readers will enjoy this earnest story’s constructive lesson.Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9781633311039
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Disruption Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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